Origami Studio NY

$5,522

158

What you are funding is the renovation of an old storage shed. My hope is to transform the space into a beautiful studio that will change the way I create Origami.

My whole life I've done origami, and although I have been practicing origami for so long, the way I create now is roughly the same as it was when I first started. I work in a small room, at a small desk. This has served me well for a long time, and I'm proud of the work that I've made up until now, but I think I can do more.

I've always loved Origami because with Origami sculptures its really what's on the inside that counts. The technical magic that makes an origami sculpture possible has always excited me. Unfortunately most of the world can't see whats on the inside. That technical magic is hidden within the sculpture. My quest is to makethe world see that inner beauty, and having a large studio space will allow me to do that.

How,you ask? First and foremost, I want to make larger origami.

In nature even the smallest organism, whether plant or animal, contains potentially infinite complexity that you cannot see. And unfortunately, we tend to ignore the beauty of such small things. Origami is similar in many respects. Because most origami sculptures are small, even though they contain such unique complexity, its easy to ignore them. My hope is that by making origami that is much larger, the world will get more excited about origami and begin to see that inner beauty. But to do that I'll need a larger space.

Secondly I want toexplore Crease Pattern art.

Crease patterns are very special geometric illustrations. They are the language of origami, and they help the viewer see the inner complexity concealed within the Origami sculpture. I want to experiment with new materials—wood, metal, stone and color. My small work desk just wont cut it if I am going to be able to make beautiful Crease Pattern art. I need a studio.

To renovate the space the first step will be to clean it out. This doesn't cost anything, and I wont be asking for any funding for this first step. In the spirit of recycling, instead of throwing it all away, I'm going to try to use some of the scrap materials now in the space to make rewards for this project.

Once the space is cleaned, depending on how much funding I receive I can do a lot, or a little with the space. The small amount I'm asking for will only make the space barely usable, but I'll be happy with just that.

The absolutely essential, necessary installations are:

• Electricity (installed by a professional electrician).

• A wood stove and chimney (installed by a professional contractor).

• Insulating/updating the walls.

• A ceiling (now theres none, just a metal roof)

If i receive more money than I'm asking for, the possibilities are really endless. Here are some of my first ideas:

The traditional flapping bird as featured in the project movie. Folded from a single square of Japanese "TANT" paper. Wings actually flap! Measures approximately 5 inches long(12.5cm).

Traditional Flapping Bird

"Cardinal" by Seth Friedman. Folded from a single square of Red and Black Duo-paper. Measures approximately 3.5 inches long (9cm).

"Cardinal" by Seth Friedman

These hand stamped cardboard rectangles are made from recycled material and measure approximately 5in x 10in (12.5cm x 25cm).

One of a kind stamped cardboard

This "Colorful Bird" will be available in many various colors. Buyer will receive a random color combination.

"Colorful Bird" by Seth Friedman

"Basset Hound" by Seth Friedman

"Dutch Rabbit" by Seth Friedman

"Complex Cardinal" by Seth Friedman

"Grizzly Bear" by Seth Friedman

"Sheepdog" by Seth Friedman

"Sheep" by Seth Friedman

Risks and challenges

The project should run pretty smoothly. Between December and March I wont be able to work on the space or on crease pattern art because its just too cold outside where I live. So I'd like to get as much as I can done before then.